Closing 2025 with a Few Finishes

Sadly, I have let my blog sit idle for too long. It has been a challenging year as I tried to get in the sewing room and make progress on projects I have wanted to get done. And it has been a busy year pursuing other demands but I still managed to bust through 59 yards of fabric, and I finished 9 quilts and quilting projects. Although I haven't made consistent reports, I have been making progress. And I always have something "in the works" regarding needle and thread by my chair, don't you? ♥

 

My End of the Year Finishes Report 

 

1. DGD's T-shirt Quilt - 76" x 111", 8 yards

This was the number one thing (interpret as "pressured commitment") on my list because it had to be done for graduation open house. As you can see, it finished to be quite large and on time! She was happy with the result and that is what mattered most. No question, this heavy quilt will be warm and cozy! 

And what a mess it made in my sewing room! So much scrap and leftovers remaining from cutting out the t-shirts. I bagged it all up for DGD as she said she wanted them. (for what I do not know)

Not sure how to tabulate stash on this one, as the t-shirts came to me in bags. I did have to purchase backing and sashing fabric though, so I am calling it 8 yards total (that includes 108" backing). What little was leftover, I made her 3 pillowcases to match- burrito style! You just can't have too many soft cotton pillowcases! 

 

2. Interweave - 69" x 79", 11.5 yards

This quilt was a carry over from the previous year. A pattern by Karen Griska, and what fun it was making it from scrap strips. Karen has many more patterns available if you like scrappy quilts too. I wish I could make them all! I hand quilted my Interweave quilt so it is very soft and warm! Hand quilting really does make that difference. And it is so nice to have a quilt sandwich by your chair, waiting for you each evening to stitch on. It really doesn't take too long to hand quilt it. Maybe 3 months? 

And maybe not the prettiest, but it was worth the time. I often drape it over the bed at night for extra warmth. 

 

3. Hidden Log Cabin - 59" x 68", 9 yards

This was a project suggested at our Stashbusters io group as a  sew-along at the beginning of the year. I used a partial jellyroll I had and added a few WOF strips to make 20 blocks. The pattern was presented by Moonkin Stitchery on YouTube if you would like to try to make one for yourself. I added sashing to mine to make it a bit larger.

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked this throw-sized quilt when it was finished. After much fondling and swooning over it, it will likely find a new home though. We can't keep them all, can we?
 

 

4. Civil War Sampler - 62" x 78", 4 yards

 

I did not make this quilt. It was purchased many moons ago on ebay. But I finally did get around to sending it to my long-arm quilter to finish just so it is done and off the "to-be-quilted" status list. I am claiming 4 yards for its binding and backing, and glad it is ready for use. This too will find a new home...if I don't find a place to display it around the house.  

Did I mention it is quilted with Baptist Fans? Don't you just love the old fashioned charm of Baptist Fans? 

 

5. Secret Window Panel - 29" x 44", 2.5 yards

This was a workshop project at my quilt guild. I made mine a little different and hand-quilted it. Secret Window is a free pattern at Jordan Fabrics.

 

6. Kawandi - 16" x 26", 1.5 yards of various scraps

This was my absolute favorite project this year! I loved working on this fun challenge quilt, and am looking forward towards a time block to begin another. If you have not tried this technique, I highly recommend making it. So different from our "traditional" way and it finished so nicely. It was a challenge project of our quilt guild due upon our yearly "Quilter's Day Out" for judging. I was given a quarter yard of the pink dressform fabric which we had to include somewhere in our project. 

Can you find them? Look at those big stitches! I had to concentrate because I have been drilled with "make tiny stitches" all my sewing life. This was a challenge in more ways than one! You can find a great tutorial by Jeri Bellini on YouTube on how to make a kawandi inspired project of your own. 
 

7. Jellyroll May Flowers - 67" x 86", 11 yards

Another quilt guild workshop project. This is obviously why I am not getting my own UFO's completed! Of course I can only blame myself as these are all voluntary. Ha! 

I made my May Flowers a bit different than the other ladies. I "snowballed" my blocks for added interest and extended it into the borders. I found the absolutely perfect fabric for the borders sitting in my stash so I used that along with my own additional strips as I only had another partial jelly roll. (where do I find these I wonder?) 

 

8. Christmas Rag Quilt - 53" x 60", 6.5 yards

This was a UFO Drawing that I participated in last year. Ugh! Do I not have enough UFOs of my own? What was I thinking?? I received this fabric bundle and decided upon making a rag quilt with it. Have you tried that technique? It goes together quickly and it is kind of fun. It is finished and washed now so I will donate it at the next Snip-Its meeting to be given to someone who needs it. 

 

 

There were some leftover blocks which will go with it. Perhaps I can do a brief demo so the Snip-It ladies can try making one of their own. 

 

9. Partridge in a Pear Tree - 44" x 54",  5 yards

I really enjoyed working on this wall hanging once I got over the hissy fits of paper piecing the pears! Yes, of course paper piecing is easy...except when your mind has to adjust to working on the wrong side of the fabric and remembering that the triangles and parallelograms are mirrored!  Oh what torture! After numerous tries and much wasted fabric, I finally got it together. Literally. Then it was time to piece those diamond blocks, which in comparison, was quite easy. 

This was another hand-quilted project and I finished it just in time for Christmas! The pattern is from an old Quilt-It magazine from the 1980s/1990s. 

 I'm STILL perfecting those tiny stitches! (unlike the Kawandi!)

And I love it! It hangs up nicely at Christmas time. Did you know that the Partridge represents Christ in this song? Many more symbols are portrayed if you take the time to look them up. Quite fascinating! 

To summarize, that is 9 finishes and 59 yards of stash used up. Not too bad I guess, considering 5 of them were my own UFOs.

 

Now as I wrap up 2025, I am beginning my list of goals for 2026! Isn't that fun and motivating as we begin a new year? My list is actually shorter than previous years, and it includes 7 quilts done and ready for binding. So I should make fast progress towards finishing more quilts...but then there are those workshops, and challenges, and wish lists, and...

 

Happy stitching!